Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, April 1: The Udupi National Highway Agitation Committee staged a unique protest against the delay in the construction of the Indrali railway bridge on Tuesday, April 1. Protesters expressed their frustration through unconventional methods, including tonsuring, begging, and a mock inauguration of the bridge.

Amruth Shenoy, chief convenor of the Udupi City National Highway Agitation Committee, and convenor Anser Ahemmad, along with two other committee members, shaved their heads in a symbolic act of protest. Anser Ahemmad also dressed as a beggar, collecting donations for the bridge's construction.

The protesters, wearing masks of prime minister Narendra Modi, MP Shobha Karandlaje, and MP Kota Shrinivas Poojary, held a mock ribbon-cutting ceremony to "inaugurate" the delayed bridge before marching towards the National Highway to continue their demonstration.

The protest commenced at Kalsanka circle and ended at the Indrali railway bridge construction site. The rally included a nasik band, chende, and a tableau featuring a cock and the Indrali Railway Bridge.

Former minister Jayaprakash Hegde said during the protest, "The Bridge was approved during my tenure, and now that construction is underway, there's a lack of coordination between the railway and national highway departments. The budget would be minimal, and there was no need for additional structures like girders. The focus seems to be on increasing the funds rather than completing the work. There has been no progress since the protest started. Both departments need to meet and finish the project as soon as possible. The MP mentioned directing the DC, but I believe the central government and its representatives should take charge, not the DC or SP, as they are not responsible for this issue."

Former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake remarked, "Since the BJP came to power, there has been no visible development. All the roads connecting Udupi remain underdeveloped. It's been eight years, and during this time, many accidents have occurred, affecting not just the public but also the police department. The BJP has essentially played an April Fool’s joke on us every single day of the year. If the BJP wants to protest, they should protest against the rising costs of all projects, including those of the central government."

Ramesh Kanchan, president of the Taluk Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee and Udupi Block Congress, said, "The BJP-led central government has continuously lied to us, giving one deadline after another. Yet, the bridge remains incomplete. The MLA doesn't even know how much funding the central government has allocated to the state, and they're not questioning it. Despite having five BJP MLAs and an MP, there has been no development in Udupi. If the authorities appointed by the BJP government were competent, Udupi wouldn't be in this situation. Instead of focusing on development, they waste time discussing irrelevant issues like cockfights in the Assembly. As president of the Udupi Block Congress, I will always stand with you."

Congress leader Prasad Raj Kanchan stated, "Whenever a project is undertaken, a feasibility test is conducted, which ensures that the work cannot be stopped. We doubt whether such a test was even done for this project. We question why incompetent workers have been assigned to it. BJP questions the present authority, but how competent were the authorities you appointed during your tenure? We have set another deadline, and if the work is not completed by then, we will hold an overnight protest."

Social worker Surendranath Kokkarne stated, "Two things are important to me. First, a 12-year-old boy lost his life in a road accident in Brahmavar today. Second, if the work is progressing slowly, it’s only because of the efforts made by Amruth Shenoy. MP Kota Shrinivas Poojary claimed that the work started after he came to power, which implies that no work was done before that."

The protesters wrote "April Fool" on the bridge, which is still under construction, using spray paint.

The protest saw the participation of president of the Udupi City National Highway Agitation Committee, Keerthi Shetty Ambalpady, vice president Jyothi Hebbar, president of the Udupi district Congress Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, leaders Balakrishna Shetty, Dinesh Hegde Molahalli, Manjula Nayak, Krishna Shetty Bajagoli, Hariprasad Rai, Prashanth Jathanna, Kushal Shetty, Kishan Hegde Kolkebail, and others.